Portable arm chair table



Oct. 28, 1969 G. KAPOSI 3,475,052

PORTABLE ARM CHAIR TABLE Filed May 29; 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Georg Kapos/ Oct. 28, 1969 G. KAPOSI 3,475,052

PORTABLE ARM CHAIR TABLE Filed May 29, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENT OR Kapos/ ATTURN .5

0d. 28, 1969- G. KAPOSI 3,475,052

PORTABLE ARM CHAIR TABLE Filed May 29, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Try 15 .44.

INVENT OR George Kev 005i BY W - ATTURNE United States Patent 3,475,052 PORTABLE ARM CHAIR TABLE George Kaposi, 5009 13th Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219 Filed May 29, 1967, Ser. No. 641,797 Int. Cl. A47b 83/02 US. Cl. 297-453 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An arm chair table for mounting on the perforated arm rests of a chair that is simple in construction and easily set up. The table comprises an elongated rectangular board with recesses therein for supporting glasses and the like. A panel is hinged at one long side for supporting a book when elevated, the panel being provided with means for holding it in elevated position. Leg assemblies carried by the board are adapted to interlock with the arm rest for removably attaching the board to the arm rests.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a portable table or tray which may be readily' and easily set up on the arm rests of a chair over the lap of the user of the chair, for supporting a book or the like in slanting position for reading and for supporting drinking glasses and the like and under all conditions of use does not interfere with the free leg or body movement of the user or require that the hands of the user be employed to hold the device in the desired position.

Brief description of views of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a chair with a table or tray embodying the invention supported on the arm rests thereof, the book support being shown in elevated position, a drinking glass being shown in supported position in dash lines.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 22 of FIG. 1, the book support being shown closed.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3- 3 of FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top perspective view showing the book support in elevated slanted position.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of one end of the table or tray showing the arm rest attaching devices.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary disassembled perspective view of a portable table or tray embodying a modified form of the invention preparatory to mounting on the arm rests of a chair.

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of an end of a table or tray embodying a modified form of arm rest attaching device.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 8-8 of FIG. 7, showing the attaching device in moved vibrated position in full lines and in attaching position in dash lines.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing another modified form of arm rest attaching device, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a table or tray embodying still another modified form of the invention shown supported on the arm rests of a chair.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on the plane of the line 12-12 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12A is a similar view showing the book support in collapsed condition, parts being shown broken away.

3,475,052 Patented Oct. 28, 1969 FIG. 13 is a similar view taken on the plane of the line 13-13 of FIG. 10.

Detailed description of the drawings Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1, a conventional type of arm chair 10 is shown having a seat 12, back rest 14, cross supporting pivotal legs 16 and upright tubular inverted U-shaped arm rests 18. The ends of the leg portions 19 of the arm rests are hooked over the sides of the seat 12 and secured to the under surface thereof in any suitable manner. The bight portion or horizontal cross portion 20 of each arm rest is thus positioned above the seat 12 to allow a table or tray 22 to be attached thereto and still leave room below for the lap of the user.

The table or tray 22 comprises an elongated rectangular shaped board 24, of wood, plastic or other suitable material. Both top and bottom surfaces of the board are flat and smooth.

In accordance with the present invention, the top surface of the board 24 centrally thereof is formed with a transverse shallow recess 26 intersecting both long sides of the body of the board. A panel 28 of the same shape as the recess 26 equal in thickness to the depth of the recess is hingedly connected at one end to the one long edge of the body of the board 24 by hinges 30, 30. The recess at its hinged end is formed with a countersunk recess 32 extending from the hinged end of the recess to a point remote from the other long edge of the body of the board. A latching arm 34 is connected at one end by a hinge 36 to the inner surface of the board 28 remote from its free end, the other end of the arm 34 being cut to form a pointed end edge 38. The length of the arm 38 is equal to the length of the countersunk recess 32. When the panel 28 is in closed position, the top surface thereof is flush with the top surface of the board 24 and the arm 34 fits in the countersunk recess 32.

The invention contemplates means for supporting drinking glasses and the like, said means comprising round shallow round recesses 40 in the board 24, on both sides of the central recess 26 adjacent the ends of the board, a drinking glass being indicated at 42.

Supporting and attaching leg assemblies indicated generally at 46 (see FIG. 5) are carried at the ends of the board 24 on the bottom surface thereof for detachably mounting the board on the arm rests 18 of the chair. The bight portions 20 of the arm rests are provided each with a pair of spaced holes 48, 48 in the outer side surface thereof. Each assembly 46 comprises a U-shaped body 48 formed of round rod stock, the end leg portions 50, 50 of the body terminating in right angularly disposed extensions 52, 52 with hooked ends 54, 54. Each U-shaped body 48 is fixed to the under surface at its respective end by screws 56 extending through holes in the end leg portions 50, the extensions depending from the end edge of the board with its hooked ends 54 extending inwardly. The hooked ends 54 are adapted to slip into the holes 48 in the bight portions 20 of the arm rests as best seen in FIG. 1. The board 24 is thus attached to the arm rests, the body of the board being in a horizontal position above the arm rests.

When it is desired to support a book, the panel 28 is raised and the free end of the arm 34 swung against the upright front wall of the countersunk recess 32 thereby interlocking with said wall and holding the panel in raised inclined position as shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 6, a modified form of supporting and attaching leg assembly 46 is shown associated with the board 24', at each end thereof. The assembly 46 comprises an elongated round rod 60 with upstanding flanges 62 at the ends thereof, the flanges being fitted in holes 64 formed in the bottom surface of the board 24'. A bushing 66 is sleeved around the body of the rod 60 and extends substantially the length of the rod. A U-shaped bracket 68 has its leg portions 70, 70 fitted in holes in the bushing whereby the bracket depends from the bushing. The bight portion 72 of the bracket carries spaced pins 74, 74 for insertion into the spaced holes 48' in the bight portion 20 of the arm rest 18' fixed on the chair seat 12. A spiral spring 76 is sleeved around the bushing 66 with one end impinging against the under surface of the board 24' and its other end curled around one of the leg portions 70 for urging the U-shaped bracket 68 inwardly against the bottom surface of the board 24' as indicated by the arrow 78.

Another modified form of supporting and attaching leg assembly 46" is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. This assembly 46" differs from the leg assembly 46 of FIG. 1 in that the extensions 52" are formed in two parts or sections, the adjacent ends of the parts or sections being connected or joined by a coil spring 80, the convolutions of one end of which are sleeved around the top part or section and the convolutions of the other end around the bottom part or section of the extension, whereby when the hooked ends 54 of the extensions are inserted into the holes in the bight portion 20 of the arm rest, the board 24" may vibrate horizontally for any desired purpose.

FIG. 9 illustrates yet another modified form of supporting and attaching leg assembly 46a. This assembly 46a comprises a wooden panel 84 hinged to each end of the board 24a by means of a hinge structure 86. A coil spring 88 sleeved around the knuckle of the hinge structure centrally thereof has one end impinging against the end edge of the body of the board 24a and its other end impinging against the body of the panel 84 whereby the panel is urged inwardly underneath the end of the board in the direction of the arrow 86 into a recess 88 formed in the bottom surface of the board. The panel carries spaced pins 90 adapted to be inserted into spaced holes 92 formed in the base of the recess 88 in order to collapse the board.

When so collapsed, the panel 84 is flush with the bottom surface of the body of the board. When the panel 84 is extended as shown, the pins 90 are adapted to be inserted into holes in the bight portion of the arm rest for attaching the board to the chair.

Referring now to the modified form of table or tray 22x shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, inclusive, adapted to be removably mounted on the arm rests 18x. The table or tray 22x is sectional and adjustable in length comprising an elongated rectangular shaped board 24x and provided with a flange 102, L-shaped in cross section, around the top thereof adapted to receive the adjacent end of the board 24x. The board 24x is somewhat similar in construction to the board 24 having a shallow recess 26x in the top surface thereof at its center. A two-ply panel 28x of the same shape as the recess 26x equal in thickness to the depth of the recess is hingedly connected at one end to the body of the board by hinged loops 30x, 30x extending through slots 104, 104 formed in the bottom surface of the body of the board. A latching arm 34x is connected to one end by a hinge 36:: to the inner surface of the board 28x remote from its free end, the other end of the arm 34x being formed in the body of the board. The length of the arm 34x is equal to the length of the slot 108. A curved arm 110 projects from the inner edge of the panel 28x extending into the slot 108. When the panel 28x is in closed position, the top surface thereof is flush with the top surface of the board 24x and the arm 34x fits in the slot 108. Shallow round recesses 40x are formed in the top surface of the board 24x on both sides of the central recess 26x for supporting drinking glasses (not shown).

Supporting and attaching leg assemblies 46x are carried at the ends of the board 24x on the bottom surface thereof for detachably mounting the board on the arm rests 18x of the chair. Each assembly comprises an L- shaped bracket 48x with a slot 112 formed in one leg 114 thereof. An inverted substantially U-shaped clamp 116 is fastened to each leg 114 by means of a flanged externally and internally threaded bushing 118 extending through the slot 112 and a nut 120 on the external threaded surface of the bushing. A washer 124 is interposed between the nut and leg 114. An elongated screw 126 with a wing 128 on one end thereof and a disc 130 on the other end extends through the bushing andcoactswith the bushing for securing the arm rest between the disc 130 and clamp 116. The board 24x is-thus attached to the arm rests 18x, the body of the board being disposed in a horizontal position above the arm rests 18x. The sections 242: and 100 of the body of the board may be moved toward and away from each other to accommodate the tabl to the distance between the arm rests 18x.

While I have illustrated anddescribed the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limitmyself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

. 1. An armchair table for mounting on th perforated armrests of a chair, said armchair table consisting. ofv an elongated rectangular shaped board, the body of said board having a main central recess and an auxiliary countersunk recess in the upper surface thereof, a panel hinged at one end to a long side of the body of the board opposite said main recess for supporting a book when elevated, an arm swingingly carried by the panel adjacent its free end for interlocking with the wall of the countersunk recess to hold the panel in elevated position, and supporting and attaching leg assemblies depending and coacting with the perforations in the armrests from the body of the board for supporting the board and for removablyattaching the board to the armrests of the chair, the supporting and attaching leg assemblies each comprising a U-shaped rod, the leg portions of the rod terminating in right angularly disposed extensions with the hooked ends, and means for securing the leg portrons to the board whereby the extensions depend from the board so that the hooked ends are adapted to be inserted into the perforations in the armrests.

2. An armchair table for mounting on the perforated armrests of a chair as defined in claim 1 wherein the body of the board is formed with shallow round recesses in the top surface thereof forreceiving and supporting drinking glasses and the like. i

3. An armchair tablefor mounting on the perforated armrests of a chair as defined in claim 2 where in the panel is adapted to fit in the main recesses whenthe panel is closed, the swinging arm is adapted to fit in the countersunk recess when the panelis closed and the swinging arm 'has a pointed free end edge to facilitate interlojck with the wall of the auxiliary countersunk recess.

An armchair table for mounting on the perforated armrests of a chair as defined in claim 1 wherein the right angularly disposed extensions, are formed of an upper part and a lowerpart with a coil spring joining the adjacent ends of the parts whereby the board is supported for horizontal vibration. A

5. An armchair table for mounting on the perforated armrests of a chair as defined in claim 1 wherein the supporting and attaching leg assemblies each comprises a panel hingedly mounted at one end to the adjacent end ofthe board, a pair of spaced pinsextending radially from the free end of the panel, the pins on the panels of the ends of the board extending in opposed relation, the board at the ends thereof being formed with recesses in the under surface thereof, the bases offsaid recesseshaving spaced holes therein, and a spring associatedwith each hinge structure, said spring having one end impinging against the adjacent end edge of .the board, the other end impinging against the. panel for urging the panel inwardly in collapsed condition against 5 6 the board, the pins adapted to fit in the holes in the 2,707,020 4/1955 Nobbe 297151 recesses in the undersurface of the board. 2,792,668 5/1957 Gallamos 248-456 2,825,611 3/1958 Aynesworth 108135 X References Cited 3,021,106 2/1962 Kramer 248--226.1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 JAMES T. McCALL, Primary Examiner 1,008,037 11/1911 Johnson 297-153 1,896,965 2/1933 Madden 248-456 US. Cl. X.R. 2,281,813 5/1942 Uh'ne 297-151 248-456 2,285,845 6/1942 Stinson 297151 

